Related

Nuts and Heart Disease & Diabetes
I've reported in the past about the positive effects of nuts (specifically pistachio nuts) on cholesterol. It seems that almonds may have a positive effect on your risk of cardiovascular disease (CHD) or diabetes.

Are almonds a good snack for those on Coumadin (warfarin)?
You're right that almonds make a great snack. There's good evidence that they can help change your cholesterol profile by improving the good cholesterol (HDL) and also having a positive effect on the LDL (bad) cholesterol. Even though they are high in fat, the fats are the ones that are better to be eating.

Alcohol in the Mediterranean Diet
I get questions from patients almost every day about whether it's safe or healthy for them drink alcohol. It goes without saying that drinking too much alcohol is bad for you. Even so, the best research we have now shows that those drinking between 2 and 3 drinks per day for men or 1 to 2 per day for women live longer and live healthier.

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Preventing heart disease with food

In 2003, European two researchers
proposed the concept of the Polypill, a combination of six medications
that, taken together as one pill, might reduce the levels of cardiovascular
disease in the general population by more than 80%. Taking the idea of
multiple prevention strategies to its logical extreme, an international
team of researchers introduced the idea of the Polymeal the following year
(BMJ 2004;329:1147-50).

The Polymeal, they wrote, would be "a safer, non-pharmacological,
and tastier alternative to the Polypill". After reviewing extensive
amounts of research on the dietary elements that help prevent cardiovascular
disease, they settled upon six foods that, taken together, would make up
the Polymeal. They are:

Wine
Fish
Dark Chocolate
Fruits and Vegetables
Almonds
Garlic

The researchers calculated the combined effect of the Polymeal using
the same criteria as was used for the Polypill, and found that combining
all the ingredients of the Polymeal would reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease by 76%. Omitting wine from the Polymeal, they found, reduced the
effect of the Polymeal to 65%. Taking additional wine with the Polymeal,
however, could have adverse effects: "The Polymeal should not be combined
with additional consumption of alcohol, in order to avoid intoxication
and conflicts with friends, relatives, and authorities...."

What this means for you

This research is only somewhat tongue
in cheek: Diet and exercise clearly has a huge impact on your risk
of cardiovascular disease. Best quote from the report: "Redundant
cardiologists could be retrained as Polymeal chefs and wine advisors."